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After Wen Ting Zhou informed Ruan Xi of this matter, he proceeded to tell her his plan.
“Ruan Ruan, I’m planning to pass all of the evidence to Yuefu and allowing Yuefu to deal with it accordingly.”
ćȳ父 (pinyin: yue fu) – father-in-law.
“This issue involves Zhang shi, it would be more appropriate for Yuefu to resolve it from his end.”
Only by doing this could he better remove Ruan Ruan from this entire situation.
Ruan Xi felt that it was a good plan. If her Earl Father knew that the Emperor and the Wen Family were staring, he would never have the guts to cover for Zhang shi.
“It is all up to you.”
It was best if they did not blow this matter out of proportion. After all, this was their clan’s dirty scandal, and Ruan Xi did not intend on ruining the Earl Chengyi Residence.
She and Ruan san niang were different in the sense that she was not as extreme as Ruan san niang. The clan had treated the original owner decently, and they had put in their utmost care and effort to cultivate the original owner, even if it was for the purposes of making her marry into an illustrious family to become the support of the clan. Furthermore, the only enemy that she and the original owner had was their legitimate mother Zhang shi, it had nothing to do with the rest.
Wen Ting Zhou harboured a smile in his eyes, he knew that Ruan Ruan would agree with his plan.
“This matter should not be delayed, I’ll hand this evidence to Yuefu first.”
Ruan Xi nodded, she did not mind if Zhang shi was resolved earlier.
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Wen Ting Zhou moved quickly. When Earl Chengyi was leaving his office, he received a sizable gift that was sent by Wen Ting Zhou.
As Earl Chengyi thought about the words that his son-in-law uttered before he left, his brows knitted together, unable to shake off the feeling that something was awry. Hence, he pushed away the invitations and hastily returned to his residence with the wooden case in his hand.
Once Earl Chengyi opened the wooden case and read everything inside, his face was a terrible shade of metallic green, his hands shaking as he held those papers, while vicious currents pervading his entire body. He stormed out of his study’s door in spitting rage, bringing the wooden case to the Tranquil Longevity Hall.
Meanwhile, Zhang shi did not know why but her heart palpitated, having the sensation that a great calamity was approaching.
Zhang shi felt slightly panicked in her heart.
In the Tranquil Longevity Hall, Lao Taitai was preparing to eat her dinner when she saw her son stalking in with a metallic green face.
“Did something happen?” Lao Taitai’s expression became stern.
“Mother, you will understand after you have read these materials.” Earl Chengyi placed the wooden case in front of Lao Taitai after he dismissed the servants.
Their family scandal could not be aired, and it should involve si niang even less.
He reckoned that his fourth son-in-law was coming from the same intention.
But Zhang shi had to be eliminated.
As her heart thumped audibly, Lao Taitai had a faint, ominous premonition, and once she had sifted through all the evidence, Lao Taitai was so angry her entire body was trembling.
“Poisonous woman, poisonous woman!”
Lao Taitai did not expect that Zhang shi would actually do so many evil things right under her eyelids.
She could forget about the in-fighting in the back courtyards, because no ruling matriarch had clean hands.
But this involved her two granddaughters, Zhang shi actually added ingredients to the medicine that was supposed to treat her fourth granddaughter’s cold shortly after her fourth granddaughter was engaged to Wen gongzi, and the infertility medicine
 Dispatching people to assassinate her third granddaughter

Lao Taitai nearly fainted from her inability to breathe in her anger. Once her rage had subsided, Lao Taitai finally calmed down.
“Lao da, how do you think we should deal with Zhang shi?”
è€ć€§ (pinyin: lao da) – oldest son in this context.
“Mother, this matter arose due to san niang, and the Emperor and si nĂŒxu are aware. If it is not dealt with properly, it might implicate the entire Earl Residence, therefore this son is planning to make Zhang shi die suddenly to protect the Earl Residence’s name.” After Earl Chengyi read these shocking and horrible pieces of evidence, he did not have any intention to spare Zhang shi, this poisonous woman.
曛愳橿 (pinyin: si nĂŒ xu) — fourth son-in-law.
“It would be ideal if she dies suddenly, it won’t involve da lang that way. As for san niang, just ignore her.” Lao Taitai still attached great importance to her legitimate grandson, but she did not have a favourable impression of Ruan san niang.
Concurrently, Lao Taitai was also doubting if her third granddaughter had been possessed by a wild ghost, or else why would Zhang shi, a mother who had doted on her, suddenly want to kill her? Even Lao Taitai wanted to get rid of this calamity, but she had the Emperor’s subordinates by her side. If it were not for them, Lao Taitai would have wanted to give her a sudden death to end all of their troubles.
It could be said that while Lao Taitai was vegetarian and Buddhist devotee now, she had been a vicious and merciless person when she was younger too.
“For the sake of avoiding long nights and too many dreams, let Zhang shi die suddenly tonight.” Earl Chengyi said in callous tones, a smear of killing intent seeping into his voice.
Lao Taitai visibly agreed.
“Tonight it is.”
Once Zhang shi had a sudden death, it would no longer be important if her third granddaughter had been possessed by a wild ghost.
Because once she entered the imperial palace, she would be in a place that was beyond their influence as well. Rather than doing more and committing more mistakes, it was better to do nothing at all, and it was even possible that they could bask in some of her light.
While the mother and son personally believed that directly eliminating Zhang shi was the best choice, it was unfortunate that they had underestimated how resolute Ruan san niang was in seeking her retribution against Zhang shi. Afterwards, the situation was still blown out of proportion, by no fault of their own.
That night, not a sound could be heard.
A black figure slinked up to Zhang shi’s bed soundlessly, pulling out a long needle that was flashing with cold light before he sank it into Zhang shi’s forehead as she was breathing deeply and soundly sleeping. A moment later, the oblivious Zhang shi stopped breathing.
The black figure departed quietly.
The person that Wen Ting Zhou dispatched to observe Earl Chengyi’s subordinate quietly left the Earl Chengyi Residence as well after he witnessed Zhang shi‘s sudden death.
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Wen Residence, Harmonious Dwelling.
After two vivid and thorough rounds of love-making, Wen Ting Zhou and Ruan Xi took a bath and they were on the verge of falling asleep when three knocks sounded at their door.
Wen Ting Zhou’s eyes darkened in response. He swiftly put on his inner garments and kissed Ruan Xi’s forehead before he murmured: “I’ll be back soon.”
Not wanting to move, Ruan Xi hummed lazily in reply before she pulled over the thin blanket to cover her body.
Wen Ting Zhou laughed soundlessly, surveying the red marks on Ruan Ruan’s fair and tender skin. Then, with a satisfied expression, he left the room.
As promised, he returned shortly after; without needing more than a few minutes, Wen Ting Zhou came back.
“Ruan Ruan, I’m back.” Wen Ting Zhou climbed into bed and hugged Ruan Ruan, planting a kiss on her lips.
“So quickly?” Ruan Xi mumbled, nestling into his chest naturally.
“Mn. Ruan Ruan, Yuefu has dealt with Zhang shi,” Wen Ting Zhou smiled as he told her the good news.
Ruan Xi’s consciousness was immediately roused. She pulled away from his embrace and raised her dewy eyes. “How was she dealt with?”
Zhang shi was hers and the original owner’s enemy, Ruan Xi was extremely interested in knowing her ending.
A glint of laughter flitted past Wen Ting Zhou’s eyes. “Zhang shi died suddenly, it’s highly probable that the news will be announced tomorrow.”
With regards to Earl Chengyi dealing with Zhang shi in such a direct and efficient manner, Wen Ting Zhou was quite satisfied with it. It was just that with Zhang shi‘s sudden death, Ruan Ruan would have to observe a period of mourning for her, and this point greatly displeased Wen Ting Zhou.
Naturally, the Emperor would be dissatisfied as well.
Owing to Zhang shi‘s sudden death, Ruan san niang had to observe a one-year mourning period out of filial piety since she had yet to enter the imperial palace.
Ruan Xi was shocked. “Sudden death?”
Truly, her Earl Father was simple and crudely violent.
Zhang shi might be gone, but she did not feel much joy, she only felt like her Earl Father was pitting her.
“Indeed. Yuefu is a smart person, I originally assumed that he would find a reason to send Zhang shi to the ancestral temple.
“It’s just that with Zhang shi‘s sudden death, I’m afraid that Ruan Ruan will have to observe a one-year mourning period.”
For the recently married Wen Ting Zhou, this was essentially filled with malice.
Ruan Xi frowned slightly. Observe a period of mourning for Zhang shi, the person who killed the original owner? What kind of joke was that?
“I don’t want to mourn for her, do you think I’m very cold-blooded and unfilial?”
“No, I don’t want you to mourn for Zhang shi either. She doesn’t deserve it. However, you still have to do it on the surface, or else it will be hard to block the mouths of the general public.”
This matter concerned Ruan Ruan’s reputation; no matter how reluctant Wen Ting Zhou was, he could only wrong Ruan Ruan.
Ruan Ruan lapsed into a moment of silence. Without preamble, the image of Ruan san niang flashed through her mind which made her eyes light up. It was not only her, she reckoned that Ruan san niang would be even more unwilling to mourn for Zhang shi.
“I have a hunch that Ruan san niang will probably cause a ruckus.” Her Earl Father wanted to conceal Zhang shi‘s scandal, but Ruan san niang would never swallow that mouthful of anger.
Asking Ruan san niang to observe a period of mourning obediently, no way!
A small glint flitted past Wen Ting Zhou’s gaze. Certainly, they could use Ruan san niang a little.
“It’s possible that after the news of Zhang shi‘s sudden death is announced, there might be some unpleasant-sounding rumours. Let’s wait and see what Ruan san xiaojie‘s reaction will be before we speak.”
At this moment, Wen Ting Zhou already had an idea in his mind.
Ruan Xi nodded.
It was inadvisable for her to meddle in this affair, but with Ruan san niang‘s personality of seeking revenge for every angry look, small affairs were bound to become big, and she could tear open the skies with big affairs.
On the road of seeking death, Ruan san niang was akin to a light carriage going down a familiar road.
“It’s getting late, let’s rest first.” Wen Ting Zhou kissed the corner of Ruan Xi’s mouth.
“Mn.”
Ruan Xi leaned into Wen Ting Zhou’s embrace, and they fell asleep hugging each other.
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The next day, the sunlight was dazzling.
Ruan Xi woke up feeling refreshed. After Wen Ting Zhou went to his office, Ruan Xi went to the main courtyard as per usual to serve her mother-in-law in her meal, and then returned to her courtyard to wait for the news.
Close to midnoon, the news of Earl Chengyi’s furen dying suddenly last night was finally released.
Su Yu, Su Zhu, and the rest were shocked.
It has barely been half a month since their Young Lady’s big wedding, and the Earl Residence’s Furen was suddenly gone, wouldn’t their Young Lady have to observe a one-year mourning period?
Furthermore, their Young Lady had married into the Wen Family in advance with the intent of warding off the illness; they feared that the people outside were going to borrow this chance to create random gossip.
“Young Lady, what should be done?” Su Yu forgot to call Ruan Xi Shao Furen in a moment of panic.
Ruan Xi was composed as she calmly said, “Naturally, a trip back to the Earl Residence needs to be made. Su Yu, ask someone to prepare the horse carriage, I’ll change to a lighter coloured jacket and skirt before going to the main courtyard to speak about this matter.”
Su Yu and Su Zhu: “

”
Mama Yang nodded, “That is the correct course of action. Su Yu, Su Zhu, you should act in accordance with Shao Furen‘s words.”
Ruan Xi changed into a pale-coloured luoqun before she went to the main courtyard. It was apparent that Wen furen had heard the news of her in-law’s untimely death. She consoled Ruan Xi with a few lines before she allowed her to return to the Earl Chengyi Residence.
At this moment, a maidservant rushed in a hurry to give a report.
“Furen, Shao Furen, there’s huge news from the Earl Chengyi Residence, Ruan san xiaojie has trussed up Earl Chengyi Furen’s trusted Mama and gone to the Shuntian Government Office to sue the suddenly deceased Earl Chengyi Furen.”
It was truly an explosive piece of news.
Ruan Xi was dumbstruck. She knew that Ruan san niang would cause a ruckus, but she did not expect that she would make a ruckus so large that it was refreshing her three world views again.
Ruan san niang was going for broke by doing this; she was risking universal condemnation by suing her recently deceased biological mother.
But where did Ruan san niang obtain the evidence?
All of a sudden, Ruan Xi remembered the words that Wen Ting Zhou told her before he left this morning.
Did the Emperor intercede?
Ruan Xi was slightly shocked.
Wen furen was also shocked, and she nearly dropped the teacup in her hands and flipped it over. “What did you just say? Ruan san xiaojie sued her own mother?”
“Replying to Furen‘s words, yes. This piece of news has spread throughout the capital.” The maidservant quickly replied.
“Ruan san xiaojie stated that she wanted to place righteousness before family and she listed the deceased Earl Chengyi Furen’s crimes, and two of those crimes state that she has conspired against Shao Furen.”
Wen furen‘s heart squeezed.
“Conspired against Shao Furen, quickly say it, what are the circumstances surrounding that?”
“Replying to Furen‘s words, allegedly, Ruan san niang said that the deceased Earl Chengyi Furen had asked someone to add ingredients into Shao Furen‘s medicinal soup three months ago, which was why Shao Furen‘s life was placed on the front lines. If it were not for Shao Furen having extraordinarily good luck, one fears that
”
The maidservant’s voice became smaller and smaller as she continued to speak.
Ruan Xi cooperated by making her own face pale, pretending to display a shocked and disbelieving expression.
Wen furen‘s face sank down instantaneously.
“What else?”
“And
 And Earl Chengyi Furen administered Shao Furen
 Administered infertility medicine!”
The maidservant toughened her scalp to finish the utterance. Once she was done speaking, she lowered her head deeply, not daring to look at the demeanours of Furen and Shao Furen.
The large reception hall became dead silent in an instant.